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“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has
strengthened me, because He considered me
faithful, putting me into service, even
though I was formerly a blasphemer and a
persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I
was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly
in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was
more than abundant, with the faith and love
which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a
trustworthy statement, deserving full
acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners, among whom I am
foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found
mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus
Christ might demonstrate His perfect
patience as an example for those who would
believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the
King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only
God, be honor and glory forever and ever.
Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:12-17
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I once was lost but now
I'm found
After years of being tossed around from heavy
addiction, gambling problems and many
other sins, Andrew didn't know what else
to do. Expelled and distant from family, he
stumbled by a 5-acre ranch in Thousand Palms
California (N.C.I.C) Discipleship Ministry. Seeing many tattooed and different
raced men out by a pool, he was absolutely certain
this was a connection for drugs where he could
prosper his ways. He whistled for one of the
guys who came and invited him back to the house for
a "meeting" on Friday. Of course, he came back
Friday thinking he would be credited an amount of
drugs to sell. Yet, little did he know he
walked into a Friday night Bible study and
discipleship home, heard the Word of God, was
convicted, and decided to ask the pastor if he could
enter the program! His life forever changed.
Andrew
was radically saved (Born Again) and changed from the inside out.
No longer a slave to sin, he decided to stay at the
ranch for 2 years, where he was brought to church
every Wednesday and Sunday. Eventually he began
serving with the children’s ministry. The
pastors discipled him for 8 more years, until the
Lord called him as the youth Pastor at Calvary
Chapel Palm
Desert. In addition, He serves on the worship
team, and also ministers at Indio
Juvenile Hall. Andrew works in the medical field.
Andrew is beyond blessed and has found favor in
being married to his bride Elisa who is also on the
worship team and is the homemaker and mother of
their 3 beautiful daughters—- Jemileh , Amira and
Arabella.
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